Open AccessContinuous Catalyst-Free Esterification of Oleic Acid in Compressed Ethanol
Author(s) -
Ana Carolina de Araújo Abdala,
Vitor Augusto dos Santos Garcia,
Caroline Portilho Trentini,
Lúcio CardozoFilho,
Edson Antônio da Silva,
Camila da Silva
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.309
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1687-8078
pISSN - 1687-806X
DOI - 10.1155/2014/803783
Subject(s) - oleic acid , chemistry , ethanol , catalysis , molar ratio , molar , chromatography , nuclear chemistry , fatty acid , organic chemistry , biochemistry , medicine , dentistry
The esterification of oleic acid in a continuous catalyst-free process using compressed ethanol was investigated in the present study. Experiments were performed in a tubular reactor and variables investigated were temperature, pressure, and oleic acid to ethanol molar ratio for different residence time. Results demonstrated that temperature, in the range of 473 K to 573 K, and pressure had a positive effect on fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) production. In the experimental range investigated, high conversions can be obtained at low ethanol concentrations in the reaction medium and it was observed that oleic acid to ethanol molar ratios greater than 1 : 6 show no significant increase in conversion. Nonnegligible reaction conversions (>90%) were achieved at 573 K, 20 MPa, oleic acid to ethanol molar ratio of 1 : 6, and 20 minutes of residence time
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